Enabling traffic safety assessment of VANETs by means of accident simulations

Vehicular ad hoc networks are conceived as a means to increase traffic safety. Primary means to demonstrate their beneficial impact before deployment are computer simulations that comprise communication models, mobility models of vehicles and models of VANET applications. In particular, the movement behavior of vehicles poses questions when evaluating traffic safety since driver models typically do not allow accidents to happen. In this paper we address modifications to the popular Wiedemann model and present an integration of the modified driving behavior to the traffic simulator VISSIM which thus enables simulations containing accidents. Finally, we show in a simulative study how locally available information on the current traffic situation can contribute to safer road traffic. Our contributions represent a first step on how to assess VANETs with respect to traffic safety.